Bed-laster end clasp



C. F. ADAMS.

BED LASTER END CLASP. APPLICATION FILED SEPL 9 1920.

INVENTOR 67161! as FAdam ATTORNEY MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNOR '10 HAMEL SHOE UT, A CORPORATION OF BED-LASTER END CLASP.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 11, 1922.

Application filed September 9, 1920. Serial No. 409,156.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed- Laster End Clasps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for lasting boots and shoes and especially to that type known as bed lasters, wherein the toe 0r heel of the shoe is held under pressure during the lasting operation against a suitably formed support commonly comprising a flexible member adapted to embrace the end portion of the shoe and provided with a pad or cushion. By relative movement under pressure of the pad and the upper leather of the shoe, the latter is strained tightly over the end of the last and firmly held during the wiping operation. As the pad is shaped to snugly fit the end of the shoe, and as the toes of left and right shoes are unlike in contour, (both the toes being unsymmetrical about the rear to front axis of the shoe), it is usual to provide right and left toe pads which must be used interchangeably in the machine according to whether a left or right shoe is being lasted. As usually constructed these pads are composed of leather strips built up to engage the shoe along one face, a high degree of skill and much labor being required to properly shape them.

This invention provides a construction by which the exchange of right and left pads may be readily effected, and which provides pads which may be readily formed to fit any shoe of whatever shape with a small amount of pad material. As this material is commonly heavy leather, this saving is impor tant.

Further, it provides a pad which does not require great skill to properly fashion, the material being cut out to fit the shoe along its edge. It also allows the use of a narrower chain than has been commonly em ployed.

More specifically this invention provides a support comprising a chain having the usual central pressure and guiding element, and the side closing elements pivoted to its ends, and a pad comprising layers of leather sewed together and cut to fit the end of the shoe, the upper layer or layers resting on the upper edge of the chain, and the lower layer or layers fitting within the chain and against the edge of a flexible strip made fast thereto. or a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1, is a plan of the pad for a left shoe assembled on its support.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation.

ig. 3, is a front elevation.

Fig. 4C, is a front elevation of the pad detached.

Fig. 5, is a detail showing a connecting member to engage the pad, and

Figs. 6, and 7, are plan and elevation details respectively showing a modification.

The present improvement is shown embodied in the toe and heel clasp for lasting machines represented in the U. S. patents to Frank Chase, No. 376,368 of Januarv 10. 1888, and No. 571,429 of November 17, 1896.

1 represents the flexible but inelastic support or backing member for a lasting pad formed as a chain in the usual manner but somewhat narrower than those heretofore employed. Extending rearwardly from the central portion of this chain is the usual guiding pressure bar 2. The opposite ends of the chain terminate in blocks or links 3 and 4 pivoted to the operating links 5 and 6, respectively, in the usual manner, these links serving, as represented in the patents to Chase referred to, to close the pad upon the shoe. Fixed within the chain 1 is a flexible member 7 made fast thereto at intervals, as shown at 8, this member being somewhat narrower than the chain to form a supporting shoulder 9 below or backward of the upper edge of the chain on which may rest, as in an angular recess or rabbet, the lower layer member 10 of a lasting pad, this lower member resting against the inner face of the chain and being cut away on its inner edge to fit the contour of the shoe to be lasted. An upper or superposed layer 11. also having its inner edge shaped to fit the shoe, is made fast by lines of stitches 12 and 13 to the member 10 but is of larger area than this member and extends outwardly beyond the same so as to overlap and rest upon the upper edge of the chain 1. Secured within notches in the overhanging end portions of the layer 11 are metal plates 14 and 15 having depending lugs 16 and 17 projecting adjacent the outer faces of the blocks 3 and 4,

these blocks in turn having upstanding lugs 18 and 19 in front of the plates 14 and .15 and extending in the notches 20 cut in the ends of the pad member 11. The fitting of the lower padmember 10 within the chain and the interlocking engagement of the lugs or catches of the pad and chain with their mating members hold the pad in position but readily removable. In Figs. 6 and 7, is shown a modified form of retaining means in which a plunger 22 spring mounted in the blocks 3 and lis used in place of the lugs 18 and 19. Spring 23 seated within the block and surrounding a pin extension 24 of the plunger 22 normally projects the same outwardly, while a head 25 formed on the end of the pin 23 retains the parts assembled. The plunger normally projects within the notched portions 20 and 21. but may be re tracted readily by the operator to remove the pad.

In operation the pad is clamped about the toe by means of pressure exerted through the levers 5 and 6 and the rod 2 in the usual manner, the pad closing tightly about the toe of the shoe.

While the pad is herein shown as composed of two layers only it is evident that several layers might be employed if desired to provide any required width of shoe engaging surface. It is seen that the fitting of the pad to contour of the shoe may be readily effected, and that it is a simple matter to change the pads according to the contour of the shoe, or whether rights or leits are being lasted.

Having thus described embodiments of this invention, though it should be recog nized that it is not limited thereto, but that many modifications might be made therein Without departing from its spirit or scope, what is claimed is,

1. An end-lasting device comprising a flexible member having a recess formed in its inner face, and an upper engaging pad fitted within said recess.

2. An end-lasting device comprising a flexible member having a recess in and extending along one edge of its inner face, an upper engaging pad fitted within said recess, and'means for detachably securing said pad within its recess.

3. An end-lasting device comprising a flexible member, a second flexible member of less width than said first member and fastened to the inner face of the latter with one edge of the former spaced backwardly from the corresponding edge of the latter, and an upper engaging pad resting upon the exposed edge of the first member and entering the angle intermediate the corresponding edges of said members.

a. An end-lasting device comprising a flexible member, a second flexible member of less width than said first member and fastened to the inner face of the latter with one edge of the former spaced backwardly from the corresponding edge of the latter, an upper engaging pad resting upon the exposed edge of the first member and entering the angle intermediate the corresponding edges of said members, and means for secur ing said pad detachably in position.

5. An end-lasting device comprising an inelastic but flexible backing member and an upper engaging pad extending along the inner face and over one edge of said flexible member.

6. An end-lasting device comprising a flexible curved member, and an upper-em gaging pad composed of superposed layers of pliant material, one of said layers resting against the internally curved face of said member and another layer overlying an edge of said member.

7. An end-lasting device comprising a flexible curved member constructed of series of rigid elements pivotally connected together, and an upper-engaging pad composed of superposed layers of pliant material. one of said layers resting against the internally curved face of said member and another layer overlying an edge of said member.

8. An endlasting device comprising a chain, a flexible member of less width than said chain secured thereto in a position back ward of one of its edges, and a shoe-upper engaging pad comprising superposed parts secured together in overlappin relation, one of said parts resting upon the edge of said flexible member within the chain and the other of said parts resting upon the exposed edge of said chain.

9. An end-lasting device comprising a chain, a flexible member of less width than said chain secured thereto in a position backward of its upper edge, a shoe-upper engaging pad comprising superposed parts secured together in overlapping relation, one of said parts resting upon the edge of said flexible member within the chain and the other of.

said parts resting upon the exposed edge of said chain, and a spring-pressed plunger carried by said chain and engaging said pad. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES F. ADAMS. 

